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Colombia labor reform tracker 2025 to 2027: what has taken effect, what is pending and what courts have suspended

Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Changing

The 2025 labor reform (Ley 2466) took effect on 25 June 2025 with staged steps: night work from 7 p.m. since December 2025, the rest day surcharge at 90 percent now and 100 percent from July 2027, and the disability hiring quota mandatory since June 2026; its delivery platform chapter is still waiting for a Ministry of Health certification. The 42 hour week arrived on 15 July 2026, and the pension reform takes effect on 1 April 2027. In 2026 courts suspended the minimum wage decree for a few months and, in October, the sector wide bargaining decree, and an earthquake emergency decree added temporary payroll support and flexibilities until March 2027.

USD figures use the TRM (tasa representativa del mercado) of COP 3,158.43 per US dollar, valid 24 to 26 October 2026, from the official TRM series published by the Superintendencia Financiera on the national open data portal (datos.gov.co). Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Labor reform Ley 2466 de 2025 in force from	2025-06-25 dateLey 2466 de 2025 art. 70, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Rest day and holiday surcharge from 1 July 2027	100 %CST art. 179 (Ley 2466 de 2025 art. 14), as of 2026-10-26 · pending
Pension reform (Ley 2381 de 2024) entry into force	2027-04-01 dateLey 2381 de 2024; Sentencia C-264 de 2026, as of 2026-10-26 · pending
Sector level bargaining decree (Decreto 234 de 2026)	provisionally suspended Decreto 234 de 2026, as of 2026-10-26 · pending
Earthquake payroll support per eligible worker per month	40 % of minimum wageDecreto Legislativo 1417 de 2026 art. 7, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Ley 2466 de 2025, the labor reform, took effect on promulgation on 25 June 2025, amending the Labor Code, Ley 50 de 1990 and Ley 789 de 2002; it repealed CST art. 162 num. 1 lit. b.Ley 2466 de 2025, Art. 70, 2025-06-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Labor reform in force from 25 June 2025 (Diario Oficial 53.160).

2. Staged steps of the reform: night work from 7 p.m. from 25 December 2025 (art. 10 par. 2); rest day and holiday surcharge 80 percent from 1 July 2025, 90 percent from 1 July 2026 and 100 percent from 1 July 2027 (art. 14); employers had to update internal work rules for the new disciplinary procedure by 25 June 2026 (art. 7 par. 4); the disability hiring quota is mandatory from the second year, that is from 25 June 2026 (art. 15 par. 3).Ley 2466 de 2025, Art. 7, 10, 14 and 15, 2025-06-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Next step: rest day surcharge to 100 percent on 1 July 2027.

3. The ordinary week fell to 42 hours on 15 July 2026, completing the reduction from 48 hours under Ley 2101 de 2021.Ley 2101 de 2021, Art. 3, 2021-07-15 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: 42 hour week in force from 15 July 2026.

4. The delivery platform chapter (Ley 2466 art. 24 to 30) applies 12 months after the government completes regulation and implementation. Decreto 991 de 2026 regulated contributions for independent couriers and tied the start of the 12 months to an official Ministry of Health certification that the collection technology is fully operational.Ley 2466 de 2025; Decreto 991 de 2026, Ley 2466 art. 67; Decreto 1072 art. 2.2.1.6.9.20, 2026-08-04 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Pending: no Ministry of Health certification found as of 26 October 2026.

5. The pension reform (Ley 2381 de 2024) moves to a pillar system, keeps the 16 percent contribution and raises worker solidarity surcharges; after the Constitutional Court's suspension (Auto A-841 de 2025) and Sentencia C-264 de 2026 of 25 August 2026, the upheld articles enter into force on 1 April 2027.Ley 2381 de 2024, Art. 20, 2024-07-16 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Entry into force 1 April 2027.

6. The 2026 minimum wage decree (Decreto 1469 de 2025, 23 percent increase) was provisionally suspended by the Consejo de Estado on 12 February 2026, replaced transitionally by Decreto 159 de 2026 at the same amount and reinstated in July 2026; the annulment case (11001-03-25-000-2026-00004-00) is pending. The 2027 minimum wage must be set by consensus by 15 December 2026 or by government decree by 30 December 2026.Decreto 159 de 2026; Ley 278 de 1996, Decreto 159 art. 1; Ley 278 art. 8 par., 2026-02-19 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Pending: merits ruling on the 2026 wage decree; 2027 wage due by 30 December 2026.

7. Decreto 234 de 2026 (6 March 2026) introduced multi level and sector bargaining with agreements binding on all employers in the sector. The Consejo de Estado provisionally suspended it in early October 2026 on the preliminary view that the matter is reserved to Congress; the merits ruling is pending.Decreto 234 de 2026, Art. 1 (Decreto 1072 art. 2.2.2.7.1 to 2.2.2.7.11), 2026-03-06 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Provisionally suspended in October 2026 (reported by the ANDI employers' association on 2 October 2026 and confirmed by the Ministry of Labor; the court order itself was not found on an official site).

8. Decreto 661 de 2026 (in force 27 June 2026) tightened union contracts to curb illegal intermediation, and Decreto 993 de 2026 (in force 6 August 2026) regulated the formalization of paid domestic work.Decreto 661 de 2026; Decreto 993 de 2026 (both amending Decreto 1072 de 2015), Decreto 1072 art. 2.2.2.1.21 and chapter 2.2.9.10, 2026-06-26 official text · verified 2026-10-26

9. After the 10 August 2026 earthquake, Decreto Legislativo 1417 de 2026 created a payroll support for micro and small employers and individual employers equal to 40 percent of a 2026 minimum wage (COP 700,362) per month for each eligible affected worker earning one to two minimum wages, for up to six monthly cycles, plus a one off transfer of half a 2026 minimum wage, paid in two monthly instalments through the family compensation funds, for affected dependent and independent workers left without work (recognizable until 31 December 2026). Until 17 March 2027, for cases linked to the earthquake, vacation can be granted with one day's notice, affected workers with suspended contracts may withdraw severance to cover lost wages, and Ministry of Labor requests to suspend activities for up to 120 days must be decided within 15 business days.
Cost to do it: Support of COP 700,362 (US$221.74) per eligible worker per monthly cycle, up to six cycles.Decreto Legislativo 1417 de 2026, Art. 3, 5 to 8, 20, 21, 27 and 43 to 48, 2026-09-17 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Temporary emergency measures from 17 September 2026 (Diario Oficial 53.630); labor flexibilities expire 17 March 2027.

10. The CREA EMPLEO benefit pays employers, subject to budget, up to 25 percent of a minimum wage a month for up to six months for each new job filled by women, young people or people over 50, while DANE unemployment exceeds the OECD average; eligible are companies with up to 50 employees, or larger ones whose sales growth over the last two years did not exceed CPI.
Cost to do it: Up to COP 437,726 (US$138.59) per new job per month in 2026.Ley 2466 de 2025, Art. 35, 2025-06-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Measure	Norm	Effective date	Status
Indefinite contract default, 4 year fixed term cap, disciplinary due process	Ley 2466 de 2025 art. 5 to 7	25 June 2025	In force
Night work from 7 p.m.	Ley 2466 art. 10	25 December 2025	In force
Rest day surcharge 90 percent	Ley 2466 art. 14	1 July 2026	In force
Rest day surcharge 100 percent	Ley 2466 art. 14	1 July 2027	Scheduled
Disability hiring quota	Ley 2466 art. 15	25 June 2026 (mandatory)	In force
Apprenticeship as labor contract; monetization 1.5 minimum wages	Ley 2466 art. 21 and 23	25 June 2025	In force
42 hour week	Ley 2101 de 2021 art. 3	15 July 2026	In force
Delivery platform social security	Ley 2466 art. 24 to 30; Decreto 991 de 2026	12 months after Ministry of Health certification	Pending
Pension reform	Ley 2381 de 2024	1 April 2027	Scheduled
2026 minimum wage (23 percent)	Decreto 1469 de 2025	1 January 2026	In force; annulment case pending
Sector level bargaining	Decreto 234 de 2026	9 March 2026	Provisionally suspended (October 2026)
Union contract requirements	Decreto 661 de 2026	27 June 2026	In force
Domestic work formalization	Decreto 993 de 2026	6 August 2026	In force
Earthquake labor flexibilities	Decreto Legislativo 1417 de 2026 art. 43 to 45	17 September 2026	Temporary, to 17 March 2027

Colombia labor reform tracker, status at 26 October 2026

Worked example

A retailer planning 2027 budgets should assume: Sunday and holiday surcharge rising from 90 to 100 percent on 1 July 2027; a new minimum wage from 1 January 2027 (decree due by 30 December 2026); pension solidarity withholding changes for staff earning 4 minimum wages or more from 1 April 2027; and no sector wide agreement obligations while Decreto 234 de 2026 stays suspended.

Step by step

1. Calendar the 1 July 2027 surcharge step, the 1 April 2027 pension change and the December 2026 minimum wage decision.
2. Confirm internal work rules include the Ley 2466 disciplinary procedure (deadline 25 June 2026).
3. Check compliance with the disability hiring quota now in force.
4. Monitor the Consejo de Estado cases on Decreto 1469 de 2025 and Decreto 234 de 2026.
5. Employers in areas affected by the August 2026 earthquake: check eligibility for the payroll support and the temporary flexibilities before 17 March 2027.

Common traps

Reading old compilations. Several official compilations still show pre reform Labor Code text; use a compilation updated for Ley 2466 de 2025.
Counting on the platform regime. It is not enforceable until 12 months after the Ministry of Health certification.
Treating suspended decrees as law. A provisionally suspended decree produces no effects until the court decides otherwise.

Sources

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